The influence of home design on the brain and body and the ability of interior design to evoke a positive or negative psychophysical response in people
Interior design has always been part of our lives. It was often considered a simple “background” in the past, but when the Covid pandemic hit us in 2020, we realised how crucial our homes are to our well-being.
Mariana Jaramillo, architect and Interior Design alumna from Istituto Marangoni Milano
Over the past two years, the bond between home design and our emotions has gained much attention as we experienced how our environment can dramatically help improve our physical and mental health, decreasing stress, increasing productivity and even sparking creativity.
Mariana Jaramillo designed the K2 Villa, a villa in the mountains near Bogotá
Empowering people to bring serenity into their homes was the driving force behind the launch of Bliss Home Design
As a Colombian-born and globe-trotting architect and interior designer, I have always been passionate about empowering people to bring serenity into their homes.
I launched my business in 2021 when I kept looking for a higher purpose in my work, as I wanted to help people feel welcome and connected to their spaces.
Mariana Jaramillo designed the K2 Villa, a villa in the mountains near Bogotá
During my maternity leave, I reflected on this and how I wanted my life to be from then on. At that moment, I started putting together all the different pieces of my life, such as the spirituality I developed while working in China and my time in Australia, where I completely changed my architectural vision by focusing on serenity. Then, an Interior Design Master’s programme at Istituto Marangoni Milano made me realise the power of interiors, how they can create experiences and how we can completely transform them through design.
Mariana Jaramillo designed the architecture and interiors of the K2 Villa, a villa in the mountains near Bogotá, surrounded by a native forest
Last but not least, I have always wanted my work to positively influence the daily lives of people and families and serve as a background for creating memories. That is why I founded Bliss Home Design in Italy where I currently live, while also working online on international projects.
How the Coronavirus shaped the home of tomorrow and changed the future of interior design forever
To survive the pandemic, we were forced to stay at home and adapt our private spaces to a new way of living, making room for many new activities that we used to do outside our homes. Also, we started seeking more connection with the outside world, via the Internet to keep in touch with our loved ones and the world in general, and also through nature to find peace and serenity in times of uncertainty.
The interior of the K2 Villa was designed to provide a greater connection to the outside world through nature
How did this affect interior design? I do think that my industry, like many others, needed to evolve and adapt, just like us human beings. It makes sense if you consider how our homes are an extension of ourselves, and through interior design, they must embrace, support and stimulate us to reach higher grounds in different areas of our lives.
The interior of the K2 Villa designed by IM alumna Mariana Jaramillo, founder of Bliss Home Design
On the one hand, interior design had to become more flexible, efficient and functional. This was to support a new way of living and fast-changing family dynamics. On the other hand, we had well-being, comfort and our impossibility to leave the house. We were losing our connection to nature, so essential to keep us grounded and boost our moods.
Nature is essential to keep us grounded, and that is why Mariana Jaramillo's K2 Villa is surrounded by it
Being surrounded by nature nourishes our well-being, so the need for green spaces was on the rise when outdoor access was restricted during lockdowns: our responses to the greenness of an interior space
During lockdowns, I started to feel an urgency. This urgency to go back to nature, connect with the outside world, find different ways to bring serenity back into our homes and nurture our well-being.
A home office inside the K2 Villa rendered by Istituto Marangoni alumna and architect Mariana Jaramillo
There are many ways in which we can connect with nature through interiors. We can get different plants, flowers, and even vertical gardens into our homes. We can also seek this connection through colours, materials, textures, lighting and other forms of inspiration.
Designed during the Covid-19 pandemic, this K2 Villa near Bogotá shows the greater restorative qualities of natural versus built scenes by connecting the house’s interiors with the surrounding mountain nature
In line with this train of thought, I designed the architecture and interiors of the K2 Villa, a villa in the mountains near Bogotá, surrounded by a native forest. With all of this in mind, I made nature the protagonist.
Tall windows go from floor to roof in the K2 Villa's living room
Every space of this house offers direct views of the outside gardens, water mirrors reflecting the sky, and its surrounding forest. Also, all the materials, furniture and decoration recall nature differently. Every space has a unique character creating its own atmosphere, with the common theme of nature tying everything together.
With my work and my company Bliss Home Design, I want to help people and families improve their well-being and lives. This project is just one example, but there are many strategies that we can use directly in our spaces to raise the energy in our homes and experience them better, helping us feel more connected to our environment.
Mariana Jaramillo
Interior Design Master's programme alumna, Milan